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We're over two months into the MLB's 2014 season and MLB Advanced Media is now re-re-introducing the RBI Baseball series next week on Xbox One and PS4. RBI Baseball 14 launched digitally on April 9 for Xbox 360, PS3, iOS and Android, and now it'll arrive on the next-gen platforms on Tuesday, June 24.

MLBAM also announced plans to update the game "later this summer." The update will bring a new competitive multiplayer mode and a "special alumni pack" for all console versions of the game. The pack will add "60 former Major League stars from the earliest days of the RBI Baseball brand" to RBI 14.

First announced in early January, RBI 14 is an arcade-style baseball game with unlockable retro jerseys and a simple two-button control scheme. Along with iOS and Android, the next-gen versions of the game will receive updated rosters to reflect roster changes this year, such as Emilio Bonifacio (Chicaco Cubs), Brandon Hicks (San Francisco Giants), Masahiro Tanaka (New York Yankees) and Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox). It will cost $19.99 on Xbox One and PS4.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballmajor-league-baseballmajor-league-baseball-advanced-mediamicrosoftMLBmlbammultiplayerplaystationps4RBIrbi-baseballrbi-baseball-14release-dateRosterroster-updateupdatexbox-oneTue, 17 Jun 2014 23:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/06/mlb-14-the-show-misses-first-pitch-on-psn-for-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/06/mlb-14-the-show-misses-first-pitch-on-psn-for-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/06/mlb-14-the-show-misses-first-pitch-on-psn-for-ps4/#commentsMLB 14: The Show was expected to be available on PSN as a day-one digital download for PS4 this morning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern. Those that pre-ordered the game have not been able to download it at all however, as indicated by a 70-page PlayStation Forums support thread.

Sony San Diego acknowledged the issue via Twitter, noting it is "aware that some users are unable to download the PS4 game from the PS Store. We're working with the PS Store team to resolve asap." This is the series' first crack at the next-gen console following MLB 14's launch on PS3 and Vita at the beginning of April. "Thanks for your patience, we won't rest until you guys are playing," the developer added in another tweet.

We've reached out to Sony for more information on the issue and a timetable for its resolution, and will update as we learn more.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Update: Sony added a note to its launch announcement post on the PlayStation Blog, which reads: "Due to unforeseen technical issues, MLB 14 The Show for PS4 is not currently available for download via the PlayStation Store. All parties are working as quickly as possible to remedy the issue. We'll update this post as soon as a resolution is reached. Thank you for your continued patience."

Update #2: In another update, Sony says the "PlayStation Store download issue regarding MLB 14 The Show on PS4 has been resolved. We apologize for any frustration this caused, and thank the community for its patience and understanding."

Following a previous report that listed April 10 as RBI Baseball 14's opening day, an Xbox.com page has confirmed the series revival is up to bat on Xbox Live Arcade on April 9.

RBI Baseball 14 will channel the design elements of the previous RBI games, assigning players to one of three body types and limiting the input to two face buttons. The new season will include stops on the PS3, Xbox One, PS4, iOS and Android platforms.

MLB's Advanced Media division is developing and publishing RBI Baseball 14, but a price of admission to its ballpark has still not been revealed. The series debuted on the NES in 1986, but beyond RBI Baseball 14, its last outing was RBI Baseball 95 on the Sega 32x.

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Those looking to play along with the baseball season using up-to-date rosters this week on PS3 and Vita should take note: The first live roster update for MLB 14: The Show will arrive on April 8, Sony's San Diego Studio noted yesterday on the game's forums. The first roster update for the game traditionally arrives in time for opening day, the first day of Major League Baseball's regular season (which was yesterday).

"Please understand that if we could have offered the live roster on April 1st, without jeopardizing other critical responsibilities we would have," the developer wrote. The game launched today on PS3 and Vita, and will arrive on PS4 on May 6.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballlive-rostermajor-league-baseballmlbmlb-14-the-showplaystationplaystation-vitaps3rosterroster-updatesce-san-diego-studioSCEASONYSony-Computer-Entertainment-Americasony-san-diegoupdatevitaTue, 01 Apr 2014 20:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/25/new-xbox-one-xbox-360-entertainment-apps-debut-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/25/new-xbox-one-xbox-360-entertainment-apps-debut-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/25/new-xbox-one-xbox-360-entertainment-apps-debut-this-week/#comments
Microsoft has rolled out a slate of new entertainment apps on Xbox Live, giving Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners access to a broader variety of sports, competitive gaming, and film offerings.

Starting this week, Xbox Live Gold members can keep up with live-broadcast tournaments and other competitive gaming events via the Xbox 360's Major League Gaming app. Major League Gaming launched its own dedicated e-sports network last year, serving up competitive gaming streams at up to 1080p resolution.

Xbox 360 owners can access new film catalogs via the Encore Play and Movieplex Play apps starting this week, while MLB.TV Premium will deliver live games and league archives to subscribers on the Xbox One. Microsoft notes that its Encore Play, Movieplex Play, and EPIX apps are also scheduled to hit the Xbox One in the coming months.

Hoping to tap the lucrative Venn diagram overlap that includes both basketball and baseball fans is PlayStation Sports Pack Volume 1, a compilation that offers PlayStation 3 owners NBA 2K14 and MLB 14: The Show.

This two-game package debuts on April 1, six months after NBA 2K14 first hit store shelves, but the same day that MLB 14: The Show goes on sale. The compilation is priced at $90, and offers players both games in their entirety alongside "6000 STUBS for MLB 14 The Show and 20,000 Virtual Currency for NBA 2K14." If you haven't played either of these games, think of STUBS and Virtual Currency as proprietary points that allow players to pick up additional in-game content.

While the package is labeled "Volume 1," it's unknown if this is the first entry in an ongoing promotional series or if somebody at Sony simply thought that addition might make the compilation sound more fancy. We contacted Sony for clarification, but the company is currently only willing to discuss this entry.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K-Sportsbaseballbasketballcompilationmlbmlb-14-the-shownbanba-2k14playstationps3sonyTue, 18 Mar 2014 16:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/13/mlb-14-the-show-arriving-may-6-on-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/13/mlb-14-the-show-arriving-may-6-on-ps4/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/13/mlb-14-the-show-arriving-may-6-on-ps4/#comments
The PS4 version of MLB 14: The Show will launch on May 6, Sony announced via Twitter today. Sony San Diego's baseball sim will land on the next-gen system just over a month after the PS3 and Vita versions arrive on April 1.

MLB 14: The Show marks an introduction in career mode transfer options for the series, as players will be able to bring their created athlete and franchise data to future iterations of MLB: The Show. The baseball game also features an online franchise mode with draft, free agency, trading and scouting systems and community-created challenges.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballmajor-league-baseballmlbmlb-14-the-showmlb-the-showplaystationps4release-datesce-san-diego-studioSCEASONYSony-Computer-Entertainment-Americasony-san-diegoThu, 13 Mar 2014 22:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/two-button-slugger-rbi-baseball-14-goes-retro-with-unlockable-je/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/two-button-slugger-rbi-baseball-14-goes-retro-with-unlockable-je/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/two-button-slugger-rbi-baseball-14-goes-retro-with-unlockable-je/#comments
In 1986, Namco launched RBI Baseball for the NES (Famcom in Japan), and it grew into a household name before Time Warner Interactive's RBI Baseball 95, the heretofore last game in the series. Now, the MLB will publish RBI Baseball 14 on April 10, and MLBAM Vice President of Games Jaime Leece expects the game will remain faithful to the treasured series.

Much like those classic games, the developer created three body types and preset batting stances for those character models as opposed to painstakingly differentiating every batter. And while NES games in the late 1980s were naturally restricted to two face buttons and a d-pad, Leece's team intentionally opted for two-button controls for the modern take on the baseball game. Leece believes that these decisions immediately separate the game from other sports games in the genre.

"When you take away the barrier of control, it leaves the competition pure," Leece told Joystiq. "It's you against me, it's not your dexterity versus my dexterity. Having to deal with button combinations and things like that creates an extra challenge that's, I think unnecessary and certainly gets in the way of the enjoyment of the product itself."

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidarcadebaseballiosipadiphonejaime-leecemajor-league-baseballmajor-league-baseball-advanced-mediamicrosoftMLBmlbammobileplaystationps3ps4rbirbi-baseballrbi-baseball-14screensscreenshotsxboxxbox-oneWed, 12 Mar 2014 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/07/report-rbi-baseball-14-takes-the-current-gen-mound-on-april-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/07/report-rbi-baseball-14-takes-the-current-gen-mound-on-april-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/07/report-rbi-baseball-14-takes-the-current-gen-mound-on-april-10/#commentsRBI Baseball 14 will reportedly launch on April 10, according to a tweet from ESPN Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell. Rovell noted that the launch date applies to the game's Xbox 360, PS3, iOS and Android versions, though there's no word on the Xbox One and PS4 versions as of yet.

The resurgence of the RBI Baseball series was first announced in January, and is in development by MLB Advanced Media, the baseball league's in-house interactive entertainment division that handles mobile games and broadcast tools like MLB.TV. We've reached out to MLBAM to confirm the game's release date and will update as we learn more.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbaseballdarren-rovelliosipadiphonemajor-league-baseballmicrosoftMLBmlbammobileplaystationps3RBIrbi-baseballrbi-baseball-14release-datereportxboxFri, 07 Mar 2014 12:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/13/mlb-14-the-show-takes-the-mound-april-1-ps4-version-arrives-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/13/mlb-14-the-show-takes-the-mound-april-1-ps4-version-arrives-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/13/mlb-14-the-show-takes-the-mound-april-1-ps4-version-arrives-in/#comments
Just as everyone's favorite pitchers and catchers report this week ahead of the MLB's spring training sessions, Sony opted to reveal the launch dates for MLB 14: The Show today. The Sony-published baseball game will arrive on PS3 and Vita on April 1 with the PS4 version stepping up to the plate in May.

Sony San Diego discussed some of the game's new features in a PlayStation Blog entry, such as cross-platform save compatibility and the guarantee that players will be able to transfer their careers from this year's game to future versions. MLB 14: The Show will also include community-created challenges, an online franchise mode with draft, free agency, trading and scouting support and some as-yet-unannounced improvements to the Road to the Show career mode.

Additionally, Sony will implement a universal in-game currency for MLB 14: The Show called "Stubs." Stubs will be earned from general gameplay (similar to experience points) and can also be purchased using real-life dollars. Sony stressed that it is "not designing the system to pressure players into spending money. It will be the same system it's been in years prior, just all rolled together with a new name." Stubs can be used to purchase career mode boosts like training points for players' Road to the Show athletes and increased franchise budgets.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballmajor-league-baseballmlbmlb-14mlb-14-the-showmlb-the-showplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4release-datesce-san-diego-studioscreenshotsSONYsony-san-diegosportstrailervitaThu, 13 Feb 2014 15:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/04/mlb-tv-app-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-this-spring/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/04/mlb-tv-app-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-this-spring/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/04/mlb-tv-app-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-this-spring/#comments
Major League Baseball's streaming app, MLB.TV, will arrive this spring, coming to PS4 and Xbox One in addition to the myriad of other platforms it calls home plate.

The professional baseball streaming service is now available for purchase at two price tiers: The standard MLB.TV subscription for $109.99 per year and the Premium subscription for $129.99 per year. Though no details on the next-gen console versions of the baseball app have been provided, MLB Advanced Media tells Joystiq the features found on the Xbox 360 (seen above) and PS3 versions are a "good indicator" of what's to come on Xbox One and PS4. The Xbox 360 version included a split-screen mode for baseball fans to watch two games at once.

The Premium tier grants viewers the ability to watch on connected devices like the aforementioned game consoles, so those looking to stream through their PS4 or Xbox One consoles will need to pony up the extra $20. Premium subscriptions also include access to the mobile app, MLB At Bat 14, viewable on iOS, Android, Kindle Fire and Windows Phone 8 devices. Subscriptions for the 2014 baseball season kicks in with spring training game broadcasts, which begin on February 26.

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After being absent for two decades, a formerly long-running sports series is returning this spring in RBI Baseball 14. Developed by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the MLB's in-house interactive entertainment division, the game will launch on all current and next-generation consoles in addition to smartphones and tablets.

RBI Baseball 95, a Time Warner Interactive-developed game for the Sega 32X, was the last entry in the series, which began on the NES/Famicom. The timing of the announcement is appropriate, given that 2K Sports officially canceled its own baseball series just one week ago, putting an end to its exclusive third-party licensing agreement. The MLB currently has a landing page with a spiffy logo set up for the game, though no other details are available at the moment.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidannouncementbaseballcomebackiosipadiphonemajor-league-baseballmicrosoftmlbmlbammobilenintendoplaystationps3ps4rbi-baseballrbi-baseball-14returnwii-uxboxxbox-oneTue, 14 Jan 2014 23:28:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/mlb-2k-baseball-series-canceled/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/mlb-2k-baseball-series-canceled/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/mlb-2k-baseball-series-canceled/#comments
2K Sports has officially canceled its MLB 2K baseball game series. A 2K representative told Joystiq today that it has "decided not to renew our MLB 2K series for 2014. We are very proud of the achievements made by the MLB 2K team and look forward to their contributions to our future titles, including NBA 2K - our industry's #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise."

The final game in the series was MLB 2K13, a game that was panned critically for its stark similarities to its predecessor, MLB 2K12. The confirmation of the series' closure comes after the publisher took steps to remove the brand from its various pages - an indicator that it no longer has the appropriate licensing obligations to fulfill.

As pointed out by Pastapadre, 2K Sports recently took down its Facebook page for the series, videos from its YouTube page and forwarded each landing page for games in the series to its global 2K website. Of the few MLB-branded pages that remain are a few of the game's online manuals, though it's uncertain how long those will be available to view.

Being that 2K Sports was the only company delivering a simulation baseball game for Microsoft's Xbox 360, thanks to an exclusive third-party licensing agreement it signed with the MLB, the Xbox One will be without a Major League Baseball game for the time being. The MLB: The Show series is developed by Sony's San Diego studio, which will launch MLB 14: The Show this spring on PS3, PS4 and Vita.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2K-Sportsbaseballcancelledlicenselicensingmajor-league-baseballmicrosoftmlbmlb-2kmlb-2k13sportsTake-TwoVisual-ConceptsxboxMon, 06 Jan 2014 19:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/05/mlb-14-the-show-hitting-ps4-in-spring-2014-with-miguel-cabrera-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/05/mlb-14-the-show-hitting-ps4-in-spring-2014-with-miguel-cabrera-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/05/mlb-14-the-show-hitting-ps4-in-spring-2014-with-miguel-cabrera-o/#commentsMLB 14: The Show will launch in spring 2014 for PS4, PS3 and Vita, Sony announced. Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera will be featured on the game's cover.

Developer Sony San Diego unveiled a teaser trailer that boasts the ways that the game will take advantage of the PS4's graphical upgrades. For instance, MLB 14: The Show designer and community manager Ramone Russell notes that the PS3 only allowed for 42 different character models for fans in the virtual crowd for the game, whereas the PS4 allows for over a thousand. Russell says the game will also be "feature complete" on the next-gen system, and won't lose the series' Road to the Show and franchise modes in its transition to the PS4.

Speaking of which, Sony added that starting with MLB 14: The Show, players will be able to carry their save files over to subsequent releases in the series, giving players' Road to the Show athletes and other career mode efforts life beyond the annual game's limited life cycle.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballcover-athletedetroit-tigersfranchisemiguel-cabreramlbmlb-14-the-showmlb-the-shownext-genplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4release-dateroad-to-the-showsave-filesce-san-diego-studioSONYsony-san-diegospring-2014teaserteaser-trailertrailervitaTue, 05 Nov 2013 21:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/mlb-2k13-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/mlb-2k13-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/mlb-2k13-review/#comments"Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford has a sweet mustache. The commentary team in Major League Baseball 2K12, Steve Phillips, Gary Thorne, and John Kruk even spend time talking about it when he's on the mound, throwing strikes. Yes, dialogue was recorded specifically to discuss the pitcher's facial hair - and yet Axford's player model is clean-shaven with some average-joe sideburns."

So began my review of MLB 2K12 a year ago, though it could just as easily serve as a fitting introduction for a review of MLB 2K13. Axford's facial hair hasn't changed in MLB 2K13 - and neither has the game. I take that back: The Online Leagues feature has been removed, the Houston Astros are now in the AL and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price is on the cover. There, I think we're pretty much all caught up.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K-SportsmicrosoftMLBmlb-2k13playstationps3Visual-ConceptsxboxTue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/mlb-13-the-show-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/mlb-13-the-show-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/mlb-13-the-show-review/#commentsBaseball has roots as deep and interwoven in the culture of America as any other tradition, a pastime that Baseball legend and Hall of Famer Ted Williams says is "the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer." MLB 13: The Show is beyond a good performer, setting the bar that much higher with utilitarian improvements that push to evolve the solid core experience rather than simply offering new modes of play or flashier presentation.

MLB 13: The Show is, like its predecessor, the best baseball video game to ever hit the market. Developer Sony San Diego is the die-hard fan rocking the nosebleeds, calculating pitcher ERA and WHIP in a crummy little note book at each and every home game. Their care and diligence has paid off yet another year, as MLB 13: The Show is, in a word, excellent.

MLB 13: The Show champions the best parts of iterative development, a triumph that doesn't feel like a rubber stamp sequel despite the lack of any one dramatic improvement or addition that I can point to as this year's theme. Instead, the tweaks and changes in MLB 13: The Show come from practical points of view, changes that mean to build even more upon the series' flawless foundation.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballMLBmlb-13-the-showplaystationplaystation-vitaps3sony-san-diegovitaTue, 12 Mar 2013 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/mlb-13-the-show-video-details-diamond-dynasty-improvements/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/mlb-13-the-show-video-details-diamond-dynasty-improvements/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/mlb-13-the-show-video-details-diamond-dynasty-improvements/#commentsThis video for MLB 13: The Show notes improvements on the series' Diamond Dynasty mode this year, in which players create their own teams comprised of a mixture of real-life and fictitious players. MLB The: The Show is slated to arrive March 5 for PS3 and Vita.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballMLBmlb-13-the-showplaystationplaystation-vitaps3SCEASCEA-san-diegoSONYvitaSat, 19 Jan 2013 10:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/12/pirates-andrew-mccutchen-wins-mlb-13-the-show-cover-athlete-vot/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/12/pirates-andrew-mccutchen-wins-mlb-13-the-show-cover-athlete-vot/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/12/pirates-andrew-mccutchen-wins-mlb-13-the-show-cover-athlete-vot/#commentsPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was announced as the winner of the MLB 13: The Show cover athlete vote held on the MLB's official site. McCutchen garnered over 100,000 votes in the five-day poll.

Second place went to New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia, who received just under 90,000 votes, while Detroit Tigers third baseman and triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera got third with 76,000 votes.

With the tail end of baseball season in full swing, Sony dropped the price on MLB 12: The Show to $29.99 for PS3 and $19.99 for Vita. Baseball fans that aren't ready to call it quits can take advantage of the game's cross-platform features at a combined $50, less than the PS3 version launched at in March.

Sony's San Diego studio also teamed up with ESPN to simulate this year's MLB playoffs in MLB 12: The Show, and has the Washington Nationals facing the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. The Orioles haven't been in the world championship since 1983, and the Nationals haven't appeared in the World Series at all. Those hoping for an interesting end to the MLB playoffs should keep their fingers crossed for Sony's simulation to come true.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballESPNMLBmlb-12-the-showmlb-the-shownationalsOriolesplayoffsplaystationplaystation-vitaprice-cutps3simulationsony-san-diegovitaworld-seriesSun, 07 Oct 2012 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/mlb-tv-app-slides-to-xbox-360-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/mlb-tv-app-slides-to-xbox-360-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/mlb-tv-app-slides-to-xbox-360-today/#commentsSubscribers to the MLB.TV service -- which streams out-of-market regular season baseball games -- will be able to access games through a new Xbox 360 app. Previously, the PS3 had the exclusive rights to MLB.TV.

The Xbox 360 version features an exclusive split-screen mode allowing users to watch two games at once: two live games; a live game and a recap; or two recaps at once, each with independent controls. Then, of course, there's the standard gesture and Kinect control options.

The app is available today, a free download on the Xbox 360. But in order to access the MLB.TV content, you'll need to pony up for a premium subscription and have an Xbox Live Gold account.

MLB.TV typically requires a subscription plan to get access to live and pre-recorded games throughout the entire league; however, the service will be available for free this weekend, according to an e-mail sent to PSN members. To take advantage of the trial, you'll have to download the free app from the PlayStation Store.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fathers-daymlbmlb-tvplaystationps3psnSat, 19 Jun 2010 13:11:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/rumor-250gb-ps3-bundled-with-mlb-10-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/rumor-250gb-ps3-bundled-with-mlb-10-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/rumor-250gb-ps3-bundled-with-mlb-10-in-june/#comments
An alleged Target inventory listing appears to indicate the impending arrival of a new PlayStation 3 bundle. According to the printout (seen above) and a photograph of a scanner (posted after the break), the bundle includes a 250GB PS3 Slim and a copy of MLB '10 The Show for $349.99. It'll hit store shelves on June 13. We've contacted a number of Target locations, one of which was able to confirm that the listing was in their database.

Given the recent deal struck up between the MLB and Sony to stream live baseball games directly to the console, an MLB '10 bundle seems like an appropriate promotion. Regardless, we've contacted Sony to see if we can get a comment about this listing's authenticity.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballbundlemlbmlb-10mlb-10-the-showtargetWed, 12 May 2010 12:59:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/wade-mcgilberry-luckiest-and-richest-mlb-2k10-player-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/wade-mcgilberry-luckiest-and-richest-mlb-2k10-player-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/wade-mcgilberry-luckiest-and-richest-mlb-2k10-player-ever/#comments
When 24-year-old Wade McGilberry of Semmes, Alabama was less than 24 years old, his friends and loved ones probably gave him a hard time about his penchant for virtual baseball. "Wade," they would say, "why don't you go play real baseball? Heck, with a name like 'Wade McGilberry,' you're already well on your way to the MLB Hall of Fame." Little do they know, Wade wasn't just wasting his time. He was training.

On the very first day of the MLB 2K10Perfect Game Competition, McGilberry managed to take down 27 in-game hitters without letting one of them place their cleated toe upon first base. For this accomplishment, McGilberry won the competition and its $1,000,000 prize, reaffirming his decision to skip all of his high school formal dances to put a few more hours into Ken Griffey, Jr.'s Slugfest. A wise decision indeed, sir.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballcontestMicrosoftmillionmlbmlb-2k10Nintendoperfect-gamepitchingsportsWiiXbox-360Wed, 05 May 2010 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/mlb-2k10s-million-dollar-pitcher-to-be-revealed-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/mlb-2k10s-million-dollar-pitcher-to-be-revealed-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/mlb-2k10s-million-dollar-pitcher-to-be-revealed-tomorrow/#commentsOkay, everyone can stop playing MLB 2K10 now*. The million-dollar prize for the first player to pitch a perfect game has been claimed, and 2K Sports will reveal the winner on CBS's The Early Show tomorrow morning. Although if you're the modern-day Cy Young who achieved this feat, you already know (and, in fact, you'll be too busy appearing on TV to watch it on TV), and if you tried to win this but didn't quite make it, it's just going to be painful to see the person who won.

If you'd like to experience that burning jealousy for yourself, tune into CBS between 8 and 9 a.m.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballcbscontestmajor-league-baseballMicrosoftmlbmlb-2k10mlb2k10no-hitterthe-early-showvisual-conceptsXbox-360Tue, 04 May 2010 23:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/nyt-ps3-to-stream-live-major-league-baseball-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/nyt-ps3-to-stream-live-major-league-baseball-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/nyt-ps3-to-stream-live-major-league-baseball-games/#comments
According to a report in the New York Times, Sony will announce today that PS3 users will gain access to live streams of Major League Baseball games. By week's end the console will enable subscriptions to the MLB.TV service, which provides access to out-of-market contests, but not local games or others that are broadcast on TV.

The NYT doesn't have the scoop on pricing, but a web subscription to the service will run you between $100 and $120 annually, or $20 to $25 per month, depending on the features. Count on more details when the official announcement drops. Sony has been considering new subscription services for PSN since the end of last year.

Update: Here's the official release, though it doesn't have much new info. The PS3 app will be free, according to PlayStation Blog, but it requires an MLB.TV subscription to stream games.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballmajor-league-baseballmlbmlb.tvnew-york-timesps3psnsonysportsstreamingThu, 22 Apr 2010 07:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/take-two-strikes-out-with-mlb-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/take-two-strikes-out-with-mlb-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/take-two-strikes-out-with-mlb-games/#commentsTake-Two has released "preliminary" earnings results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year (ending October 31, 2009), blaming a $.09 a share slump on poor sales of its Major League Baseball games. It seems the publisher might have been misled by the commonly held misconception that baseball is the "national pastime" -- modern warfare has clearly seized that honor. Take-Two didn't specify which MLB titles might have underperformed, but it released The BIGS 2, MLB Front Office Manager, MLB 2K9, and MLB 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars all in 2009, and all to mediocre critical reception.

2K expects to take a $30-35 million loss on its MLB business and further adjusted its financial outlook downward following the BioShock 2 delay. While Borderlands and NBA 2K10 helped generate some revenue last quarter, Take-Two's future doesn't look to be paved in gold. "Looking ahead, we remain committed to our goal of operating profitably on a non-GAAP basis;" CEO Strauss Zelnick said. "However, we do not currently expect to achieve that goal in fiscal 2010. We have an outstanding product portfolio, exceptional creative talent and a solid balance sheet, and are confident that these strengths will provide a sound foundation for improved performance."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballearningsfinancial-reportmlbmlb-2k9mlb-2k9-fantasy-all-starsmlb-front-office-managersalestake-twothe-bigs-2Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:40:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/after-game-1-mlb-09s-world-series-predictions-look-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/after-game-1-mlb-09s-world-series-predictions-look-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/after-game-1-mlb-09s-world-series-predictions-look-good/#commentsAt first, we doubted MLB 09's simulation of the World Series between the NY Yankees and the Philadelphia ... Phillies (a bit redundant, no?). However, the Phillies' dominant performance in Game 1 of the series made us reconsider our position.

According to the San Diego Studio-developed baseball game, the World Series will last all seven games this year, with Philadelphia ultimately the victor. So far, MLB has correctly predicted the victor of Game 1.

This may be upsetting to New York fans, especially as the Yankees are the heavily favored team in this match-up. However, video game AI has had a pretty successful track record so far. Look at Madden, which has managed to correctly predict the winner of 6 out of the last 7 Super Bowl games. We'll find out soon enough if MLB has the same accuracy.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballmlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-showphilliespredictionsworld-seriesyankeesThu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/mlb-09-the-show-performs-45-better-than-08-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/mlb-09-the-show-performs-45-better-than-08-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/mlb-09-the-show-performs-45-better-than-08-edition/#comments
Hardware numbers were down in March 2009's NPD figures. Yet, Sony has something to smile about. PS3 was able to secure three of the top 10 software sales in March with Resident Evil 5, Killzone 2 and MLB 09 The Show.

MLB 09 The Show is Sony's exclusive first-party baseball title and it sold an impressive 305,000 units on PS3 alone, making it the best-selling sports game of the month. As the #6 selling game of the month, The Show franchise has grown significantly. Patrick Seybold of SCEA told us that "MLB'09 The Show saw an increase of more than 45% growth from its 2008 version in North America."

With Killzone 2 selling over a million copies worldwide, Sony can at least tout their growing software sales. See Seybold's full statement after the break.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-shownpdpatrick-seyboldsalessceaThu, 16 Apr 2009 19:45:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/26/dustin-pedroia-dons-the-mo-cap-suit-for-mlb-09-the-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/26/dustin-pedroia-dons-the-mo-cap-suit-for-mlb-09-the-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/26/dustin-pedroia-dons-the-mo-cap-suit-for-mlb-09-the-show/#commentsClick for high-resolution gallery.
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is the cover athlete for this year's PlayStation-exclusive baseball series, MLB The Show. In addition to posing for the cover of the upcoming games, Pedroia donned a motion capture suit to help create a realistic look and feel for the game.

You can see him striking a pose, donning a glove, and wielding his bat in our gallery below. MLB 09 The Show arrives on every PlayStation system (PS2, PSP, PS3) next week.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dustin-pedroiamlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-showred-soxThu, 26 Feb 2009 11:15:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/psp-version-of-mlb-09-the-show-features-big-league-presentation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/psp-version-of-mlb-09-the-show-features-big-league-presentation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/psp-version-of-mlb-09-the-show-features-big-league-presentation/#commentsIt may be on a handheld, but the upcoming PSP version of MLB 09 The Show is no visual slouch. A newly released trailer showcases some solid graphics and terrific presentation -- as expected from Sony's premiere first-party baseball game.

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Yeah, we know MLB 09 The Show looks good on the PS3. But how does it look on the other PlayStation platforms? Sony's first-party baseball game boasts some strong visuals on both the PSP (pictured) and PS2. The PS2 version is particularly impressive, especially considering the age of the platform.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-showWed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/baseball-gets-dramatic-in-new-mlb-09-the-show-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/baseball-gets-dramatic-in-new-mlb-09-the-show-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/baseball-gets-dramatic-in-new-mlb-09-the-show-trailer/#commentsMLB The Show is quite possibly Sony's best first-party sports game. This year's edition includes the incremental improvements that's expected of sports games. However, 09 will also be the first game to feature the new Yankees and Mets stadiums. This new trailer will certainly excite baseball fans, with its dramatic cuts and music.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-showTue, 10 Feb 2009 21:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/mlb-09-training-vid-preps-for-the-season/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/mlb-09-training-vid-preps-for-the-season/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/mlb-09-training-vid-preps-for-the-season/#comments
Baseball season will be starting up again in a few months, and along with it comes another annual helping of SCEA's MLB 09: The Show. Before you plan on heading out to that baseball diamond for the big time, you'll need to dust off those cleats and put in a little Spring Training. The Show 09 has you covered, as its "Road to the Show" career mode has been revamped with newly designed training schemes.

As seen and explained in a video clip after the break, there are two training modes this year: Batting and Base Stealing. The latter is all new and depending on the actions you make, characters can increase stats in Base Running Ability, Base Running Aggressiveness, and Speed. Batting practice has also been revamped from previous versions to reflect this freeform 'level up' system - it's no longer subjected to the coach's discretion. You can choose whatever sort of area you want to focus on. The only downside? There's no Pitching or Fielding training this year. Those skills will, however, be worked out in MLB 2010. Um ... great.

The Yankees' new stadium isn't open quite yet, but through the magic of the PS3 and MLB 09: The Show, you'll be able to take a look. MTV Multiplayer has an exclusive trailer, highlighting the design of the new stadium. But wait, there's more love for NY baseball fans. Multiplayer will also be showing off the first video the Mets' new stadium, Citi Field, later today.

Video can only be played in the US. Videos are inaccessible to those in Canada and the UK.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-showyankeesTue, 13 Jan 2009 13:30:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/red-sox-dustin-pedroia-declared-mlb-09-cover-athlete/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/red-sox-dustin-pedroia-declared-mlb-09-cover-athlete/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/red-sox-dustin-pedroia-declared-mlb-09-cover-athlete/#commentsBoston Red Sox player Dustin Pedroia will grace the cover of MLB 09, appearing exclusively on PS2, PS3 and PSP. The 2007 American League Rookie of the Year helped the Red Sox win their seventh World Series Title that year.

"Dustin Pedroia has made a tremendous impact on an already storied Boston Red Sox organization and was an integral part to their 2007 World Series victory," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. "We are excited to have him become part of our MLB franchise, represent MLB 09 The Show, and join the impressive roster of MLB stars who have served as previous cover athletes."

This is the first video game to don Pedroia. Previous MLB cover stars include Vladimir Guerrero, David Wright, Eric Chavez, Troy Glaus, Shawn Green, Adam Dunn and teammate David Ortiz.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dustin-pedroiamlbmlb-09mlb-09-the-showred-soxThu, 08 Jan 2009 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/red-sox-dustin-pedroia-declared-mlb-09-cover-athlete/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/red-sox-dustin-pedroia-declared-mlb-09-cover-athlete/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/red-sox-dustin-pedroia-declared-mlb-09-cover-athlete/#comments
Boston Red Sox player Dustin Pedroia will grace the cover of MLB 09, appearing exclusively on PS2, PS3 and PSP. The 2007 American League Rookie of the Year helped the Red Sox win their seventh World Series Title that year.

"Dustin Pedroia has made a tremendous impact on an already storied Boston Red Sox organization and was an integral part to their 2007 World Series victory," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. "We are excited to have him become part of our MLB franchise, represent MLB 09 The Show, and join the impressive roster of MLB stars who have served as previous cover athletes."

This is the first video game to don Pedroia. Previous MLB cover stars include Vladimir Guerrero, David Wright, Eric Chavez, Troy Glaus, Shawn Green, Adam Dunn and teammate David Ortiz.

Sony has come back from the concession stand with those nachos you asked for, as well as news that MLB 09 The Show will ship for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PSP in time for Spring Training, which officially kicks off on February 25, 2009.

The latest in what Sony describes as the "longest-running, officially licensed" game about America's favorite pastime will bring a number of new features to the ballpark, including interactive training and coaching, fully functional drafts and support for a full 40-man roster in Franchise Mode. Players will also be able to edit music and assign specific tunes for batters as they walk up to the plate, while the previously revealed support for custom chants and cat calls will fulfill the need for a catcher, and not a belly scratcher.

MLB 09 The Show for the PS2 will also include an exclusive custom player creator, while the PSP's smaller strike zone will have to make due with just the "core gameplay features" found on the PS3 version. Don't be sad, PSP owners, you can still read up on what you are missing out on with support for online news feeds. That's almost a feature, right?

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Another year, another year of sports games. MLB The Show returns to PS3 next year with a slew of new features. MLB 09 The Show will look even better than last year, thanks to added detail. Stadium crowds will be more interactive and varied than ever, and you'll see transitional lighting on the field as the day turns to dusk. An expanded Road to the Show and Franchise mode can also be enjoyed.

09 will also add online season leagues, training/practice drills, and a new ability to store replays onto the hard drive. The most important addition of all, however, are the mascots. Each team's mascot will be represented in the game.